Written Answers Tuesday 30 October 2007

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5225 by Kenny MacAskill on 22 October 2007, whether it has the power to legislate on the pricing of alcohol and alcohol promotions in retail outlets.

Kenny MacAskill: The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 already sets mandatory conditions for licensed premises in relation to pricing of alcohol and irresponsible drinks promotions. It also gives the Scottish ministers powers to add such further conditions as they consider necessary or expedient for the purposes of any of the licensing objectives set out in the act. Use of these powers will of course be subject to parliamentary scrutiny.

Antisocial Behaviour

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest position is on the timescale for its review of the national antisocial behaviour strategy.

Fergus Ewing: The terms of reference for the review of the national antisocial behaviour strategy, which set out the review’s timescale, were published on 25 October 2007.

Children and Young People

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4451 by Adam Ingram on 2 October 2007, on which future date it will consider establishing a review into the operation and implementation of mainstreaming policy.

Adam Ingram: A date has not yet been decided for considering establishing a review into the operation and implementation of mainstreaming policy.

Class Sizes

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the international research to which it refers in support of its decision to reduce class sizes to 18 in primary 1 to primary 3.

Adam Ingram: The student teacher achievement ratio project in Tennessee provides evidence that smaller class sizes in the early years leads to improvements in attainment particularly for children from deprived areas.

Council Tax

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has met the Chief Executive and Convener of Dumfries and Galloway Council regarding their estimates of the funding required to freeze council tax in 2008-09 at the 2007-08 level.

John Swinney: I met the Chief Executive and Convener of Dumfries and Galloway Council on 2 October 2007. We discussed a wide range of relevant topics including the Scottish Government’s commitment to a council tax freeze in 2008-09.

Council Tax

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it estimates that Dumfries and Galloway Council will require to freeze council tax in 2008-09 at the 2007-08 level.

John Swinney: The cost of freezing the council tax is being taken forward as part of my on-going discussions with COSLA in the run up to the announcement of the current Spending Review. It would be premature to discuss estimates for individual councils at this stage.

Council Tax

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether additional resources will be provided to local authorities to ensure a freeze in council tax from 2008.

John Swinney: The cost of freezing the council tax is being taken forward as part of my on-going discussions with COSLA in the run up to the announcement of the outcome of the current Spending Review.

Council Tax

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give an assurance that there will be no cuts in local authority services as a result of a freeze in council tax from 2008.

John Swinney: The funding to be provided to each local authority for the period 2008-11 is being discussed as part of my on-going discussions with COSLA on the current Spending Review. It is my intention that the funding which will be given to local government will be sufficient to enable all councils to improve the quality of the services being provided. It is, however, the responsibility of each local authority to allocate its resources based on their local needs and priorities.

Dangerous Dogs Act 1991

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many orders for destruction were made for dogs in respect of which offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 were committed in each year since 1999.

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many orders for offenders to be disqualified from having custody of a dog for such a period as the court saw fit were made under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in each year since 1999.

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many orders specifying measures to be taken to keep dogs under proper control, whether by muzzling, keeping on a lead, exclusion from specified places or otherwise, have been made in each year since 1999.

Fergus Ewing: Information at the level of detail requested is not held centrally.

Dangerous Dogs Act 1991

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many reported attacks by dogs on people there have been in each year since 1999.

Fergus Ewing: The available information is given in the following table. As well as the number of attacks by dogs which result in an injury, and are subsequently recorded by the police, the numbers include offences connected to destruction and disqualification (for having custody of a dog) orders.

  Number of Offences Recorded by the Police Under Sections 3 and 4 of the Dangerous Dogs Act, 1991, 1999-2000 to 2006-07

  

1999-2000
239


2000-01
257


2001-02
284


2002-03
360


2003-04
433


2004-05
618


2005-06
517


2006-07
623

Drug Misuse

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people convicted of offences linked to drug misuse have been sentenced to six months or less in prison in (a) 2005, (b) 2006 and (c) 2007.

Fergus Ewing: The available information is given in the table below. Data for 2006-07 is due to be published in March 2008.

  Persons Receiving a Custodial Sentence of Six Months or Less for Drug Related Offences1, 2003-04 to 2005-06

  

Sentence
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06


6 months or less
431
454
410



  Note: 1. Where main offence.

Dyslexia

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what routes are provided to teachers to enhance their continuing professional development with regard to dyslexia.

Adam Ingram: The range of experiences that may contribute to a teacher’s professional development is very wide and may be recognised as any activity that has been undertaken to progress, assist or enhance a teacher’s professionalism.

  Teachers, therefore, have a variety of routes available to them by which to access continuing professional development with regard to dyslexia. For example, these routes include accredited courses and academic qualifications, school-wide action research projects, experiential learning and self-study.

Dyslexia

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3459 by Adam Ingram on 6 September 2007, what four other areas have been added to the professional recognition framework in addition to dyslexia.

Adam Ingram: In addition to dyslexia, the four other areas added to the professional recognition framework in relation to additional support needs are: autism; hearing impairment; visual impairment, and hearing and visual impairment.

Dyslexia

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the General Teaching Council for Scotland or local authorities will be responsible for ensuring that teachers are able to maintain and enhance their continuing professional development with regard to dyslexia.

Adam Ingram: Local authorities as employers are responsible for ensuring teachers have access to a wide range of high quality continuing professional development experiences with regard to dyslexia.

Dyslexia

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any specific body will be required to keep a central record of the number of teachers who are seeking to enhance their continuing professional development by focusing on dyslexia.

Adam Ingram: There are no plans for a specific body to keep a central record of the number of teachers seeking to enhance their continuing professional development by focusing on dyslexia.

  However, the General Teaching Council for Scotland maintains a record of those teachers who have gained recognition in the area of professional interest – dyslexia.

Dyslexia

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether learning support teachers will be expected to undertake continuing professional development in dyslexia.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Executive expects learning support teachers to undertake a range of continuing professional development experiences to ensure that they can support and best meet the needs of all pupils with additional support needs including those with dyslexia.

Dyslexia

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any courses provided for teachers to enhance their continuing professional development with regard to dyslexia will be regulated and, if so, by whom.

Adam Ingram: The range of experiences that may contribute to a teacher’s professional development is very wide and may be recognised as any activity that has been undertaken to progress, assist or enhance a teacher’s professionalism.

  There is no requirement for continuing professional development experiences to be regulated. However, local authorities as employers are responsible for ensuring that teachers have access to a wide range of high quality continuing professional development experiences with regard to dyslexia.

Dyslexia

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any courses, provided to teachers to enhance their continuing professional development focusing on dyslexia, will include the involvement of the voluntary sector.

Adam Ingram: Professional development experiences and courses for teachers focusing on dyslexia, are available from a range of providers, including the voluntary sector.

Enterprise

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will monitor whether the new enterprise structure increases regional GDP.

Jim Mather: The forthcoming Government Economic Strategy will set out national targets for monitoring progress towards increasing sustainable economic growth. This will form the top level of the government’s new performance framework, focussed on delivery of the government’s purpose and five strategic objectives, which will be published on 14 November 2007 with the Strategic Spending Review.

  The national outcomes and indicators that accompany the spending review will remove the proliferation of competing priorities and act as the basis for discussions on delivery agreements with local government and other providers, including the enterprise networks. These more detailed plans will be published in due course.

  Appropriate performance measures will therefore be developed for the enterprise networks, which take into account both the economic strategy and the performance framework.

Further Education

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the response to the review of Scotland’s colleges will be made.

Fiona Hyslop: I am pleased to announce that the Scottish Government’s response is being published today. Copies will be available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 43789).

General Practitioners

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the recruitment and retention of GPs has improved as a result of the new GMS contract.

Nicola Sturgeon: The recruitment and retention of GPs has improved since the introduction of the new GMS contract, as evidence by the continued growth in GP numbers.

  The new GMS contract was introduced on 1 April 2004. For the period 1 October 2004 to 30 September 2006 (inclusive), the (head count) number of GPs in Scotland has increased from 4,456 to 4,639. This constitutes an increase of 4.1 per cent.

  These figures exclude locum GPs.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how an integrated approach to health care is being developed between GPs and pharmacists.

Shona Robison: Officials are working to ensure that the new community pharmacy contract in Scotland supports an integrated approach to health care by promoting and facilitating joint working between GPs and community pharmacists.

Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what specialist support is available in Ayrshire and Arran for people with brain injuries.

Nicola Sturgeon: The early management of patients with head injury is covered by SIGN Guideline 46, which is currently under revision. NHS boards are expected to implement these guidelines through local protocols.

  People in NHS Ayrshire and Arran who require specialist brain injury rehabilitation on an in-patient basis are referred either to the Astley Ainslie Hospital, Edinburgh, or to Murdostoun Castle, near Wishaw. If discharged with rehabilitation needs, they would be seen on an out-patient basis at the Douglas Grant Rehabilitation Centre, Irvine.

Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what specialist support is available in Ayrshire and Arran for the carers of people with brain injuries.

Nicola Sturgeon: We acknowledge the important role which carers can play, especially in cases of more severe brain injuries. Where patients have been admitted to hospital because of their brain injury, SIGN Guideline 46 stresses the importance of providing clear information, at the point of discharge from hospital, to both the patient and the responsible adult taking the patient home.

  The Eglinton Disability Resource Centre at Ayrshire Central Hospital, Irvine, can act as a further source of advice in cases of disabilities associated with severe head injury.

Health

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was undertaken prior to the decision not to continue carrying out major surgical procedures for cleft lip and palate treatment in Aberdeen.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who was consulted as part of any consultation undertaken prior to the decision not to continue carrying out major surgical procedures for cleft lip and palate treatment in Aberdeen.

Nicola Sturgeon: The decision was based on the recommendations of a detailed review of the service which was completed in May 2006. The review involved consultations with the parents of children with cleft lip and palate, in particular the Cleft Lip and Palate Association, looking at issues such as patient choice, the importance of distance to families, and the elements of the service which parents considered necessary and desirable.

  Staff involved in the provision of all cleft lip and palate services were also consulted, through the mechanism of cleftsis, the national managed clinical network for cleft lip and palate services. In particular, there were separate consultations with the multi-disciplinary teams at each of the three sites where the highly specialised surgery was undertaken, and with each of the surgeons providing the service.

Health

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale was of any consultation undertaken prior to the decision not to continue carrying out major surgical procedures for cleft lip and palate treatment in Aberdeen.

Nicola Sturgeon: Consultation with parents and staff was an essential part of the review, which took place between October 2005 and May 2006.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to address the disparity between NHS boards in the cost of providing primary care out-of-hours services.

Nicola Sturgeon: It is recognised that out-of-hours services in remote and rural areas face a number of unique challenges.

  An out-of-hours strategy group - made up of representatives from NHS boards, NHS QIS, NES, and NHS 24 - is developing a strategy for future sustainable models of out-of-hours care. A key component of this strategy will reflect the needs of rural areas, addressing the requirement to redesign services to reflect a multi-disciplinary approach with extended role development for nursing staff and other health care professionals. The strategy will also look to promote existing good practice in rural locations, models that are both sustainable and cost effective in the long-term, but continue to set high standards of patient care.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how paramedics and ambulance crews are being supported to take more responsibility for out-of-hours care.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Ambulance Service, through its Developing Enhanced Skills Project Board and its Reducing Hospital Admissions Project Board, has developed new roles, new ways of working and supportive training and education programmes that are designed to develop the skills of paramedics to deal with a broader range of patient conditions. The training of all paramedics in these additional skills is being rolled-out over a three year period.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision is made for cardiac rehabilitation by each NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards, in association with their cardiac Managed Clinical Networks and their local planning partners, are responsible for the provision of cardiac rehabilitation services in their area, in line with the thinking set out in the national strategy for CHD and Stroke.

High Hedges

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide local authorities with guidance on the issuing of abatement notices in relation to high hedges disputes.

Fergus Ewing: We currently have no plans to provide local authorities with guidance on issuing abatement notices in relation to disputes about high hedges, but neither have we ruled this out. We recognise the considerable distress that can be caused to residents by their neighbours’ high hedges and are giving active consideration to how we can best support the provision of effective means of resolving disputes.

High Hedges

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether problems caused by high hedges will be part of its review of the antisocial behaviour strategy.

Fergus Ewing: As part of review we will be considering the use, effectiveness and range of existing measures available to local agencies to tackle unacceptable behaviour, including services relevant to high hedge disputes, such as mediation.

  In addition to this, we are giving consideration – outwith the review – to how we could most effectively support the provision of additional means of resolving disputes about high hedges, should these be deemed necessary.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many notices of intended prosecution were served to drivers of foreign-registered vehicles in each year since 1999 and, of these, how many resulted in (a) a fine being paid by the owner or driver and (b) no fine being paid.

Kenny MacAskill: It is not possible to identify prosecutions of drivers of foreign-registered vehicles from other drivers from the data held centrally.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many foreign-registered vehicles stopped by police were found not to be in a roadworthy condition in each year since 1999.

Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases involving fraudulent motoring documents being issued by garage owners have been notified to the authorities in each year since 1999, broken down by category of document.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table. The Road Traffic Act 1988 Section 173 deals with the forgery of documents such as licences, test certificates, and plating certificates. It is not possible to identify garage owners or categories of documents from the data held centrally.

  Persons Proceeded Against1 in Scottish Courts for Offences Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 Section 1732, 1999-2000 - 2005-06

  

 Financial Year
 Number


 1999-2000
 41


 2000-01
 25


 2001-02
 26


 2002-03
 22


 2003-04
 37


 2004-05
 32


 2005-06
 23



  Notes:

  1. Figures may be slight underestimates due to some under-representation of acquittals data from SCRO.

  2. Where main offence.

Justice

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of funding has been allocated to the 218 Centre in each year since it was established.

Kenny MacAskill: Funding of the 218 Centre in Glasgow is provided through Section 27 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 and paid to Glasgow City Council as the commissioning authority. The allocations for each of the financial years is set out as follows:

  

Financial Year
£


2003-04
350,000


2004-05
1,694,500


2005-06
1,736,863


2006-07
1,736,863


2007-08
1,736,863

Legal Aid

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3940 by Kenny MacAskill on 14 September 2007, when the Scottish Legal Aid Board’s survey of the particular types of work which registered providers of civil legal assistance undertake will be completed and how the results will be made available to potential applicants for legal aid seeking to identify the solicitors most likely to be able to take on their case.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Legal Aid Board will be seeking information from all firms registered to provide legal assistance throughout November 2007. The information collected will be used to support both the board’s telephone helpline service and its interactive online solicitor finder tool.

  The board operates a national telephone helpline (0845 122 8686) that allows members of the public to find out more about legal aid, including whether they qualify and where to find a legal aid solicitor. The helpline is open seven days a week 7am to 11pm. Potential applicants can also use the board’s online interactive solicitor finder tool to search for a solicitor by postcode and geographical area. Currently the information supporting both services is limited to the contact details of the solicitor firm and whether they are registered to provide criminal and/or civil legal assistance.

  The survey results will enable the board to provide potential legal aid applicants with more detailed information such as the types of cases which firms handle under legal aid and their future intentions of providing legally aided advice, as well as ensuring that contact details are up to date. The new information has been designed to help members of the public make a quicker and more informed choice about where they might access legal aid services.

  The board expects that the enhanced information will be available to potential applicants in early January 2008.

Legal Aid

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3939 by Kenny MacAskill on 14 September 2007, how many solicitors’ practices received payments from the Scottish Legal Aid Board in excess of £50,000 per annum in each of the last five years, broken down into firms offering (a) only civil legal aid work, (b) only criminal legal aid work and (c) both civil and criminal legal aid work.

Kenny MacAskill: The following table provides information on the number of firms receiving payment of over £50,000 from the Scottish Legal Aid Board in respect of fees (for solicitors or solicitor advocates, and including VAT where applicable) in each of the financial years shown.

  Firms receiving payment in respect of:

  

 
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Civil legal assistance only
2
4
5
4
7


Criminal legal assistance only
11
24
27
37
51


Both civil and criminal legal assistance
453
459
439
436
397


Total (any form of legal assistance)
466
487
471
477
455



  Note: Income in relation to children’s legal aid is combined with that from criminal legal aid for the purposes of this table.

Legal Aid

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3940 by Kenny MacAskill on 14 September 2007, what action the Scottish Legal Aid Board will take if its survey of the particular types of work which registered providers of civil legal assistance undertake identifies areas where there are few solicitors offering legal aid services, either in general or in particular types of cases.

Kenny MacAskill: Solicitors in private practice are free to choose whether or not to provide a legal aid service and, if so, to what extent. Solicitors cannot be compelled to provide particular services in particular places for particular clients. It is, therefore, possible that some clients may experience difficulty in finding a solicitor able and willing to take on their case, particularly where there are few solicitors providing a civil legal aid service in general.

  The Scottish Legal Aid Board is currently finalising a review of civil legal aid fees, requested by the government, and the outcome of this work will shortly be available for ministers’ consideration. The board is also taking a number of steps to simplify the administration of the civil legal assistance system (further details of these steps are provided in the answer to question S3W-3938 on 14 September 2007). Both of these strands of work are designed to encourage solicitors to continue to provide civil legal assistance.

  If evidence emerges of difficulties being faced by potential clients in particular areas of the country or in particular areas of law, the board will report this to the Scottish Government with recommendations on how best to address the matter, including, where appropriate, further use of employed solicitors. In response to such evidence, ministers recently authorised the board to employ two solicitors to provide a casework service across the Highlands and Islands for clients who are unable to find a solicitor in private practice. The board is currently recruiting and the service will be operational early in the New Year. The service will be based in Inverness and cover a wide geographic area that has been highlighted as being at risk of under supply.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Lifelong Learning

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the new skills agency will consult stakeholders.

Fiona Hyslop: It will be for the new skills body to decide how it will undertake this key role, recognising the importance of effective stakeholder engagement, in line with Skills for Scotland: A Lifelong Skills Strategy .

Lifelong Learning

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps the Scottish Government is taking to support Co-operative Education Trust Scotland through the Determined to Succeed strategy.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has supported the Co-operative Education Trust Scotland since its inception in 2005. £60,000 of Determined to Succeed funding was provided for its initial two year pilot period, to support the development of educational resources produced under its "Co-operate to Succeed" initiative. We continue to work closely with the organisers to raise the profile of Co-operate to Succeed and support their work.

Ministerial Visits

Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a report of the First Minister’s visit to the United States of America in October 2007.

Linda Fabiani: A report on the First Minister’s recent visit to the United States of America has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 43943).

NHS Hospitals

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have presented to accident and emergency departments in each of the last five years.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on attendances at accident and emergency departments within NHS Scotland is available on the Information Services Division (ISD Scotland) website: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/4156.html .

NHS Hospitals

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the building being constructed as a replacement for the Victoria Infirmary in Glasgow contains the requisite features of a hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Glasgow and Clyde have, following extensive consultation, developed a strategy for the future delivery of health care services for the area covered by that board. This service strategy involves the replacement of a number of existing facilities which are not considered appropriate for the delivery of health care services in the 21st Century and the Victoria Hospital falls into that category.

  Not only are models of care vastly different to those practised when the Victoria Hospital was built but the use of modern materials and methods of construction result in buildings which frequently differ in appearance to those being replaced. Indeed we should expect and welcome change to the physical appearance of healthcare buildings as we place increasing emphasis on environments which are supportive of the recovery process and of the staff who work in our hospitals.

  The building currently under construction to replace the Victoria Hospital will be very different in appearance but what is critical is that it delivers the appropriate range of healthcare facilities in an appropriate environment. I am confident that the new building will deliver these clinical services from a building which has been designed to the highest standards.

NHS Staff

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage hours of sickness absence have been in each of the last five years in each NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information for 2005 onwards can be found at: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/1347.html .

  

 
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007


Scotland
4.64
5.25
5.35
5.23
5.55


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
 
 
6.14
5.23
5.83


NHS Borders
 
 
4.42
4.49
4.62


NHS Argyll and Clyde
 
 
5.64
6.10
X


Special Health Boards
 
 
5.39
 
 


NHS National Services Scotland
 
 
 
4.10
4.42


NHS 24
 
 
 
7.59
9.88


NHS Education For Scotland
 
 
 
1.22
2.18


NHS Quality Improvement Scotland
 
 
 
2.07
2.05


NHS Health Scotland
 
 
 
2.22
2.86


Scottish Ambulance Service
 
 
5.87
5.35
6.10


The State Hospital 
 
 
6.48
5.67
5.67


Golden Jubilee
 
 
2.7
5.35
5.37


NHS Fife
 
 
6.27
5.63
6.21


NHS Greater Glasgow
 
 
6.37
5.45
X


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
X
X
X
X
5.82


NHS Highland
 
 
4.56
4.48
5.12


NHS Lanarkshire
 
 
5.67
5.98
6.34


NHS Grampian
 
 
4.07
4.59
5.10


NHS Orkney
 
 
4.43
4.09
4.27


NHS Lothian
 
 
5.4
5.04
4.99


NHS Tayside
 
 
5.23
5.18
5.46


NHS Forth Valley
 
 
6.03
5.44
5.80


NHS Western Isles
 
 
4.87
5.42
6.25


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
 
 
x
4.66
4.70


NHS Shetland
 
 
2.67
4.71
4.41

NHS Waiting Times

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people waited (a) four weeks or less, (b) eight weeks or less, (c) 12 weeks or less, (d) 16 weeks or less, (e) 20 weeks or less, (f) 24 weeks or less, (g) 28 weeks or less, (h) 32 weeks or less, (i) 36 weeks or less, (j) 40 weeks or less, (k) 44 weeks or less, (l) 48 weeks or less or (m) 52 weeks or less for a bone density scan in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board area.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not available centrally.

  Specific coding which permits the identification of bone density scans has only recently been introduced. Therefore, it is not currently possible to provide a waiting times analysis, however, it will be available in the future.

NHS Waiting Times

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a comprehensive list of all its waiting time guarantees for the health service and the latest figures for the number of patients who have been treated (a) within and (b) outwith guaranteed waiting times.

Nicola Sturgeon: The NHS in Scotland is working to ensure delivery of a number of national waiting times targets for the benefit of patients. These national targets are published on the Acute Hospital Care website, which is operated by NHS National Services Scotland’s Information Services Division. The website can be accessed at: www.isdscotland.org/waiting_times .

  The website is updated regularly and statistics on performance against all the national waiting times targets are shown on the website, with the exception of the target that every patient should have access to a GP, nurse or other health care professional within 48 hours. For the years 2005-06 and 2006-07, NHS boards reported that some 99% of practices demonstrated compliance with requirements for this target, compared with 97% in 2004-05.

  We are supporting NHS boards as they work towards abolishing availability status codes and introducing new arrangements for measuring waiting times, so that all patients waiting for a first out-patient appointment with a consultant or for hospital inpatient or day case treatment come within the scope of national targets from the beginning of next year.

  Consideration is currently being given to ways in which waiting times targets can be turned into legally binding waiting times guarantees and so make them more meaningful to patients. We will consult widely on this in due course.

Older People

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients aged over 65 were admitted to hospital two or more times as emergency patients in each of the last five years.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is given in the following table:

  Number of Patients Aged 65+ with 2+ Emergency Admissions within 1 Year

  

Year
 


2002
35,564


2003
35,526


2004
36,922


2005
37,264


2006
36,953



  Source: ISD Scotland SMR01 return.

Osteoporosis

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hospital admissions there were for (a) osteoporosis and (b) hip fractures in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is given in table numbers 1 and 2, which show the number of hospital admissions for Osteoporosis and Hip Fracture for each NHS board of treatment for financial years 1999 to 2006, copies of which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 43896 and 43897 respectively).

Osteoporosis

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have been held with (a) ministers, (b) officials and (c) NHS boards regarding appropriate investment to improve the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of osteoporosis.

Nicola Sturgeon: Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 71 on osteoporosis sets out the evidence for the optimal management of those with osteoporosis. We expect NHS boards to implement that, and other relevant guidelines, locally.

  The Scottish Enhanced Services programme for primary and community care circular (PCA (M) (2007)10) has a service specification for falls and bone health. NHS boards can elect to choose this area and there are additional resources to implement the activities. We have also encouraged boards to think about an initiative dealing with early intervention.

  We have drawn boards’ attention to the findings of an NHS Quality Improvement Scotland audit (2005) showing the benefits in preventing future osteoporotic fractures of direct access to DEXA scanning by patients who have sustained a fracture. We also continue to encourage NHS boards to provide DEXA scanners, in line with SIGN Guideline 71. There is also a national DEXA scanning facility at the Golden Jubilee hospital.

  In February 2007 we issued HDL(2007)13, which indicates that every NHS board should have a falls and fracture prevention strategy, with each CHP appointing a falls prevention and management lead to work alongside the rehabilitation co-ordinator which each board is expected to appoint to take forward the national rehabilitation strategy.

  NHS Quality Improvement Scotland will consider the multiple technology appraisal by the National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) of drugs for the primary prevention of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. NHS boards are expected to take account of NICE appraisals in their planning, funding and provision of services, to ensure that recommended drugs or treatments are made available to meet clinical need.

Osteoporosis

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a named individual within its health department with responsibility for the development of policy on osteoporosis.

Nicola Sturgeon: A number of areas within the Scottish Government Health Directorates contribute to the development of policy on osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were diagnosed with osteoporosis in each year since 1999, also broken down by gender and NHS board area.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not available centrally in the form requested. SMR01 data provides an estimate of the number of people diagnosed with osteoporosis in a given year, and this is set out in the following table.

  Incidence1 of Hospital Admissions with any Diagnosis of Osteoporosis2

  Financial Years Ending 31 March

  

 
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006


Scotland3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Both sexes
3,387
3,304
2,841
3,025
3,456
3,687
4,350
4,308


Males
539
536
433
492
563
591
647
709


Females
2,848
2,768
2,408
2,533
2,893
3,096
3,703
3,599


Ayrshire and Arran
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Both sexes
267
261
196
321
352
420
451
387


Males
32
45
38
46
61
71
67
47


Females
235
216
158
275
291
349
384
340


Borders
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Both sexes
80
86
85
62
66
79
90
78


Males
21
15
13
12
15
21
13
14


Females
59
71
72
50
51
58
77
64


Argyll and Clyde
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Both sexes
276
237
206
179
232
245
247
196


Males
42
44
30
29
44
41
42
26


Females
234
193
176
150
188
204
205
170


Fife 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Both sexes
160
257
239
296
263
269
359
328


Males
25
35
25
39
46
37
50
60


Females
135
222
214
257
217
232
309
268


Greater Glasgow
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Both sexes
814
717
682
657
767
796
1,093
1,067


Males
130
110
106
103
116
136
184
200


Females
684
607
576
554
651
660
909
867


Highland 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Both sexes
102
120
76
134
223
205
217
256


Males
13
20
7
20
38
22
18
42


Females
89
100
69
114
185
183
199
214


Lanarkshire
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Both sexes
264
228
187
172
203
181
258
243


Males
52
39
29
29
31
30
37
46


Females
212
189
158
143
172
151
221
197


Grampian
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Both sexes
266
297
227
260
334
431
420
529


Males
41
49
32
45
52
54
51
70


Females
225
248
195
215
282
377
369
459


Orkney
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Both sexes
5
9
11
8
12
18
16
14


Males
0
1
0
0
4
3
1
1


Females
5
8
11
8
8
15
15
13


Lothian
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Both sexes
565
543
463
487
507
521
625
672


Males
82
103
85
90
90
94
88
114


Females
483
440
378
397
417
427
537
558


Tayside
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Both sexes
194
181
165
156
171
213
269
247


Males
26
23
27
31
22
24
47
38


Females
168
158
138
125
149
189
222
209


Forth Valley 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Both sexes
186
172
137
95
127
119
107
85


Males
41
26
16
19
17
27
15
18


Females
145
146
121
76
110
92
92
67


Western Isles
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Both sexes
31
21
18
27
42
11
13
19


Males
6
2
6
7
7
2
3
3


Females
25
19
12
20
35
9
10
16


Dumfries and Galloway
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Both sexes
175
169
142
163
154
168
177
162


Males
27
23
18
19
20
28
29
23


Females
148
146
124
144
134
140
148
139


Shetland
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Both sexes
2
6
7
8
3
11
8
25


Males
1
1
1
3
0
1
2
7


Females
1
5
6
5
3
10
6
18



  Source: SMR01.

  Notes:

  1. Incidence is defined as a patient’s first ever discharge with the specified diagnosis screened backwards through the patient’s discharge history for 10 years (1997).

  2. Up to six diagnoses (one principal and up to five secondary) are recorded on SMR01. All six diagnoses have been used to identify osteoporosis employing the

  International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD10) codes M80-M82.

  3. Excludes residents out with Scotland, of no fixed abode or unknown.

Osteoporosis

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are projected to be diagnosed with osteoporosis in each year to 2025, also broken down by gender and NHS board area.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not held centrally. Data on the observed incidence of admissions to acute hospitals with a diagnosis of osteoporosis from 1999-2006 inclusive, broken down by gender and NHS board area, is available in the answer to question S3W-5087 on 30 October 2007.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Osteoporosis

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions there have been with (a) officials and (b) NHS boards to ensure that appropriate services exist to (i) prevent, (ii) diagnose and (iii) treat osteoporosis in younger patients.

Nicola Sturgeon: We are aware of concerns about the need for younger (i.e. under 70) women to have access to treatment when their risk of fracture is equal to, or greater than, that of women aged over 70. The information to NHS boards from SIGN Guideline 71 is to target osteoporosis assessment at those with the highest risk, to ensure the most efficient use of resources. The need for younger women to be assessed when they have low bone mineral density is recognised by the National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) report. When the final report is released, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland will give advice to NHSScotland on the recommendations from NICE on primary prevention of osteoporotic fragility.

Police

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is for the structure of police boards, with particular reference to the Northern Joint Police Board and Highland Constabulary.

Kenny MacAskill: The structure of all police boards is set out in Amalgamation Scheme Orders. The Order for Northern Joint Police Board came into force on 1 April 1996 and amalgamated the local government areas of Highland, Western Isles, Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands into the combined police area of Northern Constabulary.

Police

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for the operational deployment of police officers.

Kenny MacAskill: The relevant chief constable is responsible for the operational deployment of police officers. This is conferred by the Police (Scotland) Act 1967, which requires that when officers are performing their duties they must do so under the direction of the appropriate chief constable.

Police

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how Scottish ministers can influence the operational deployment of police officers.

Kenny MacAskill: The Police (Scotland) Act 1967 provides for a tripartite sharing of responsibility for policing between Scottish ministers, police authorities and chief constables, who are collectively responsible for setting policing priorities.

Road Accidents

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to 999 operators regarding which emergency services are to be contacted, and the order in which they are to be contacted, in the event of a road traffic accident where the caller specifies the services that they require.

Fergus Ewing: Procedures for handling 999 calls are agreed on a UK basis by the 999 Liaison Committee, which comprises representatives from call handling agents, telecommunications providers and relevant government departments. The agreed procedures are set out in the Code of Practice for the Public Emergency Call Service, which indicates that operators should ask the caller which service they require. If the caller requests more than one emergency service they will be connected in the same order as the caller requested.

Road Accidents

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to 999 operators regarding the assessment of which emergency services are to be contacted, and the order in which they are to be contacted, in the event of a road traffic accident where the caller makes no specific request and is prompted.

Fergus Ewing: Procedures for handling 999 calls are agreed on a UK basis by the 999 Liaison Committee, which comprises representatives from call handling agents, telecommunications providers and relevant government departments. The agreed procedures are set out in the Code of Practice for the Public Emergency Call Service, which indicates that operators should ask the caller which service they require. If the caller does not identify the service, is unable to decide or cannot speak they will be connected to the police.

Sectarianism

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which police forces have a named officer to collect and collate information on sectarian incidents and offences.

Fergus Ewing: All police forces in Scotland have arrangements in place for collecting and collating information on sectarian incidents and offences. Fife, Grampian, and Central Scotland Police Forces have a named officer responsible for recording this information.

Sectarianism

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Community Safety last met representatives of Nil by Mouth.

Fergus Ewing: I last met Nil by Mouth’s campaign director on 25 September 2007 at the artwork event which I hosted to recognise the achievements of young people who had created a range of anti-sectarian images and slogans.

Sectarianism

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when its officials last met Nil by Mouth.

Fergus Ewing: Government officials have an ongoing dialogue with Nil by Mouth. The last contact between them was on 29 October 2007. In addition, officials have given a commitment to meet with Nil by Mouth’s campaign director and key trustees at Nil by Mouth’s earliest convenience.

Sectarianism

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Community Safety next plans to meet Nil by Mouth.

Fergus Ewing: I fully recognise the constructive role that voluntary organisations can play in tackling sectarianism and religious intolerance in Scotland, and am aware that there are already many voluntary groups making a positive contribution to this agenda. That is why I intend to convene a meeting with voluntary sector representatives, including Nil by Mouth, to discuss how we can build on what has already been achieved to rid Scotland of religious bigotry and discrimination.

  In addition I will be participating in the Nil by Mouth event which is being hosted at the Scottish Parliament on 14 November 2007.

Student Finance

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the cost would be of raising the minimum family income threshold at which the full Young Students’ Bursary is paid from £18,360 to £25,000 to bring Scotland into line with the rest of the United Kingdom.

Fiona Hyslop: Based on current income profiles, estimates suggest that the cost of raising the minimum family income threshold at which the full Young Students’ Bursary is paid is approximately £6 million. The rest of the UK change does not come into effect until 2008-09.

Student Finance

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the cost would be of raising the maximum family income threshold at which students are eligible for the Young Students’ Bursary from £33,000 to £60,000 to bring Scotland into line with the rest of the United Kingdom.

Fiona Hyslop: Due to the lack of readily available information on family income data for these students, it is not possible to provide an estimate of the increase in costs with any degree of accuracy.

Teachers

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether an individual teacher, the school to which an individual teacher is employed, or local authorities are responsible for determining the emphasis of an individual teacher’s continuing professional development

Adam Ingram: Teachers are required to agree an annual continuing professional development plan with their immediate line manager. When discussing this plan, consideration should be given to the individual’s needs together with school, local and national priorities.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Parliamentary Procurement

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body who is responsible for (a) purchasing and (b) exhibiting art works in the Parliament.

Tricia Marwick: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is responsible for purchasing and exhibiting art works in the Parliament. In previous sessions, an Art Advisory Group (AAG), comprising members and external representation, has supported the SPCB in this activity. The AAG is currently being re-established. An acquisitions and disposal policy agreed by the SPCB exists to guide the principles and ethical considerations around collecting art appropriate for display in the Scottish Parliament. At official level, the art curator/exhibitions manager is responsible for the management and care, including the display, of artworks in the Scottish Parliament building.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Parliamentary Procurement

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what funding has been available for art works in each year since 1999 and how much was spent in each year.

Tricia Marwick: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body does not have a specific annual budget for the acquisition of art. Where the SPCB might decide to purchase art, we would look to resource this through capital contingency, prioritising against other demands. The expenditure on the acquisition of art, which included the establishment of an art collection for the Parliament, since 2002 is as follows:

  Expenditure on Artworks

  

2002-03
£33,425


2003-04
£200,890


2004-05
£82,426


2005-06
£33,000


2006-07
£8,000



  Since 2005-6, the SPCB has identified a budget to manage the care of the art collection and it is used to resource areas of work such as conservation, loans, framing, display, labelling, installation and art handling services. The expenditure on this is as follows:

  Expenditure on Care of Art Work

  

2005-06
£11,737


2006-07
£21,680